Last week a new Psa-V positive result was reported on a Hort16A orchard in Gisborne – the first positive result since March. Red exudate was detected on vines following a recent pruning round.

Winter pruning is a good opportunity to monitor orchards for suspicious symptoms as every vine is visited.

Growers on not-detected orchards who suspect Psa-V or other unusual symptoms are required to report these to KVH on 0800 665 825 or email info@kvh.org.nz so lab testing can be carried out (or in recovery regions Psa-V can be verified by suitably trained packhouse personnel.)

Protocols & Movement Controls

9 July 2015

Southern Cross Horticulture joins plant certification scheme

9 July 2015

Southern Cross Horticulture in Tauranga is now producing plants certified under the Kiwifruit Plant Certification Scheme (KPCS). Southern Cross is the first nursery in a Recovery Region to achieve...

Southern Cross Horticulture in Tauranga is now producing plants certified under the Kiwifruit Plant Certification Scheme (KPCS). Southern Cross is the first nursery in a Recovery Region to achieve this Standard, demonstrating that with good hygiene and biosecurity practices, a nursery can produce good clean plants undercover even in close proximity to orchards with Psa-V.

KPCS certification demonstrates that Southern Cross Horticulture is managing its biosecurity risks, has been independently audited, visually inspected for target organisms, and returned a non-detected result for a comprehensive test for Psa-V. This involves 600 leaves being sampled from across the operation.

While KPCS plants are permitted greater freedom of movement, movement controls still apply and no plants (KPCS or otherwise) are permitted to move from a Recovery Region to a Containment or Exclusion Region. KVH movement controls are detailed in KVH Protocol: Nursery Stock. Please contact KVH on 0800 665 825 for clarification if you are unsure about any movement.

Nurseries continue to tell us that many growers are not placing orders for plants far enough in advance. To ensure nurseries have plants available to meet demand, orders should be placed before Christmas of the year prior to dispatch (preferably in October).

Biosecurity News

9 July 2015

Biosecurity 2025 project - consultation underway

9 July 2015

Industry and public consultation on MPI’s Biosecurity 2025 project is now underway. The Biosecurity 2025 project was launched by MPI in April to review and future-proof New Zealand's...

Industry and public consultation on MPI’s Biosecurity 2025 project is now underway. The Biosecurity 2025 project was launched by MPI in April to review and future-proof New Zealand's biosecurity system.

KVH is actively engaged in this process to ensure the best possible outcome for the kiwifruit industry is achieved. A draft submission has been prepared which will be reviewed by the KVH Board and once finalised a copy of the formal submission will be made available on the KVH website.

Consultation with primary industry stakeholders is also underway for the new border clearance levy that was recently announced in the Government’s 2015 budget.

This levy, in the form of a passenger surcharge, will provide sustainable funding for New Zealand's biosecurity system and increased protection at the border; and KVH is fully supportive of this levy.

Last week KVH attended a consultation meeting and will be making a formal submission on behalf of the kiwifruit industry. Once finalised this will become available on the KVH website.

R&D News

9 July 2015

R&D report on KVH website - Autumn spraying for protection of Psa-V

9 July 2015

This trial was established to determine the effects of an intensive autumn spray protection programme on Gold3 and Hort16A. It was difficult to separate treatment effects as the Gold3 site had little...

This trial was established to determine the effects of an intensive autumn spray protection programme on Gold3 and Hort16A. It was difficult to separate treatment effects as the Gold3 site had little infection and the Hort16A site had too much infection. There was a trend for treatment programmes including a full programme with coppers, foliar applied elicitors and KeyStrepto™ to reduce the effects of Psa-V by comparison with other lesser treatment programmes.

Growers using the two-day and six-day New Zealand risk maps may have recently noticed an error which saw all the maps without any risk index colour at all (see image). This occurs very rarely when the data is exactly the same all over the country, and therefore the model has nothing to contour. It has since been corrected.

Company Notices

9 July 2015

KVH Annual General Meeting

9 July 2015

The 2015 KVH AGM is on Thursday 23 July starting at 4pm at Club Mount Maunganui, corner Totara and Kawaka streets, Mount Maunganui. AGM papers and proposed resolutions have been sent to KVH...

The 2015 KVH AGM is on Thursday 23 July starting at 4pm at Club Mount Maunganui, corner Totara and Kawaka streets, Mount Maunganui. AGM papers and proposed resolutions have been sent to KVH members and are available below.

In addition to the AGM matters, MPI’s Steve Gilbert, Director of Border Clearance Services, will give an overview of the challenges at the New Zealand border.

Growers and industry participants are encouraged to attend but only members have voting rights. Please RSVP to info@kvh.org.nz.

Results from KVH’s latest round of resistance testing show the importance of applying copper at the correct label rates for effective Psa control. In lab tests, Psa-V samples from 5 of 56 KPINS tested in the wider Bay of Plenty Region showed some growth when a 15% concentration of copper was applied. It is concerning to see possible signs of tolerance to one of our key tools for fighting Psa-V.

What is being done?
KVH is carrying out further work to establish the nature of the tolerance, including re-sampling and further sampling from the five orchards. KVH is working with scientists to quantify the level and develop a recommended programme to monitor and manage the issue going forward.

KVH will work with orchard owners where tolerance or resistance has been identified to ensure best practice management is in place. This includes removal of infected material, the application of sprays at label rates, alternating spray products, movement restrictions on plant material and a strong focus on orchard hygiene.

Through the R&D and product testing programme Zespri and KVH are continuing to look for alternative and sustainable control approaches for Psa-V.

What can growers do?
KVH recommends growers remain proactive and maintain a year-round comprehensive Psa-V management programme. This includes monitoring, removing signs of Psa-V, applying protective sprays at label rates, and alternating protectant spray products where possible. It is also very important to maintain orchard hygiene to reduce the potential for resistant Psa to enter your orchard, or spread within if present.

Grower News

25 June 2015

Winter field-day round

25 June 2015

The recent Zespri winter FON rounds were well supported by growers. KVH provided a short hand-out summarising key points to protect orchards against Psa-V through winter.
Click here for a copy...

Plant and Food Research were recently granted permission to import sterile Queensland fruit flies (QFF) into a New Zealand containment facility to develop new attractants for female and male flies. The project will determine what the flies can smell and if these odours can be used to improve the sensitivity of traps or increase the numbers of flies lured in. Three approaches will be used; odours based on host fruit, sex pheromones and bacteria.

This research is part of a larger collaborative approach with Australian organisations to manage and eradicate QFF populations. One of these collaborations is the SITPlus partnership, a five year $22 million R&D partnership using Sterile Insect Techniques (SIT). Supporting these research activities, is the development of a SIT facility that is capable of producing 50 million sterile QFF per week as an eradication tool for release in Australia or New Zealand should an established population ever become larger enough for this to be required. A brochure on the SITPlus project can be found here.

KVH supports these research activities as an integral component of our readiness activities for the industry’s most unwanted biosecurity threat.

Matt Dyck, KVH Biosecurity

Biosecurity News

25 June 2015

KVH presents biosecurity to students

25 June 2015

Yesterday KVH presented the importance of NZ biosecurity to more than 170 high school students at ‘Cultivate Your Career’ – an event that ran concurrently with the Bay of Plenty...

Yesterday KVH presented the importance of NZ biosecurity to more than 170 high school students at ‘Cultivate Your Career’ – an event that ran concurrently with the Bay of Plenty Young Fruit Grower competition at Mills Reef Winery.

High school students from the Bay of Plenty and Waikato learned about New Zealand’s biosecurity history, the importance of protecting New Zealand’s unique environment and the potential impact of unwanted pests and diseases on both horticulture production and the environment.

They were also introduced to the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) including what it looks like, how it can get here, its potential impacts should it arrive and establish in New Zealand and what to do if they suspect they have found one.

They were also asked to create a poster or advertisement about the BMSB with the aim of educating other school students about it. Entries close in two weeks and KVH will publish the winning entry.

Students were very engaged during the sessions, with some asking about careers in biosecurity and the horticulture industry.